© Copyright Australian Museum, 2005 Records of the Australian Museum (2005) Vol. 57: 361–374. ISSN 0067-1975 New Crayfishes (Decapoda: Parastacidae: Euastacus) from Northeastern New South Wales, Australia JASON COUGHRAN School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480, Australia [email protected] ABSTRACT. Routine astacological surveys in northeastern New South Wales have revealed four new species of crayfish. Three species are allied to the “setosus complex”, a group of small and poorly spinose Euastacus previously recorded only from Queensland: E. girurmulayn n.sp. from the Nightcap Range, E. guruhgi n.sp. from the Tweed volcanic plug and E. jagabar n.sp. from the Border Ranges. These three species are differentiated chiefly on features of the sternal keel, spination and antennal squame. Euastacus dalagarbe n.sp., recorded from the Border Ranges, has affinities with a growing group of crayfish displaying morphological traits intermediary between the setosus complex and more characteristically spinose Euastacus. It differs markedly in spination of the chelae, and in the nature of the lateral processes of the pereiopods. All of these taxa occur in association with the much larger and more spinose E. sulcatus. An unusual crayfish specimen of uncertain status is also discussed. COUGHRAN, JASON, 2005. New crayfishes (Decapoda: Parastacidae: Euastacus) from northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 57(3): 361–374. Recent taxonomic revision of the genus Euastacus (Morgan, distinct from the setosus complex, being medium to large in 1986, 1988, 1997) resulted in both the description of several size and of moderate to strong spination. Recently, increased new species and synonymies of others, including the sampling in the region extended the distribution of E. gumar synonymy of the genus Euastacoides (Riek, 1956) with and E. sulcatus and revealed a further species, E. mirangudjin, Euastacus. Together with a new species of Euastacus, E. morphologically intermediate between the setosus complex jagara, the genus Euastacoides was designated by Morgan and Euastacus generally (Coughran, 2002). (1988) as a group of small, poorly spinose Euastacus (the The current paper describes four new species of “setosus complex”), not sufficiently different to warrant Euastacus discovered during continued surveys of the recognition at the generic level. Moreover, Morgan (1988, region, one of which, E. dalagarbe n.sp., also bears 1997) pointed out that several species bear intermediary characteristics intermediate in nature. The remaining traits between the setosus complex and those of the genus species, E. girurmulayn n.sp., E. guruhgi n.sp. and E. generally, strengthening this synonymy. jagabar n.sp., are allied to the setosus complex itself. A Historically there has been a paucity of sampling in the key to all species of Euastacus found in southeastern northeastern New South Wales area, resulting in few sites of Queensland and northeastern New South Wales is provided. taxonomic record for the three species of Euastacus known An unusual specimen collected during the research, which from the area: E. gumar (two proximal sites), E. sulcatus (two displays some characteristics of Euastacus yet differs sites) and E. valentulus (several sites). These three species are markedly in structural morphology, is also discussed. www.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1453_complete.pdf 362 Records of the Australian Museum (2005) Vol. 57 Fig. 1. Collection localities of Euastacus dalagarbe (black squares) and E. jagabar (white squares) in northeastern New South Wales. All sites are in the Border Ranges National Park. Location of collecting areas in Figs. 1–3 are shown in the inset. Methods not. Relative sizes of characters are provided for comparative purposes, and are standardized as “small”, Sampling involved lifting rocks and woody debris and “medium” or “large”. collecting crayfish by hand. Although other methods were Type specimens have been deposited with the Australian employed (baited traps, spotlighting, visual observation), Museum (AM) collection. Holotypes of similar species were they were only successful in catching the larger and examined from the collections of the AM and Queensland sympatric Euastacus sulcatus. Collection localities are Museum (QM), as outlined below. Other animals examined shown in Figs. 1–3. Basic water quality and habitat are housed in the Southern Cross University reference information was recorded, and all retained animals were collection (SCU). transported to Southern Cross University in moist hessian sacks, before being euthanased by freezing. Specimens were Comparative material. Euastacus jagara, holotype, QM fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for two weeks, W6471; Euastacus maidae, holotype, AM P12888; thereafter stored in 70% ethanol. Some specimens were Euastacus setosus, holotype, AM P12887; Euastacus preserved directly in ethanol. Colour was described while urospinosus, holotype, AM P12886; Euastacus reductus, animals were alive, and photographs taken of live animals holotype, AM P15731; Euastacus mirangudjin, identified to record it. Elevations were estimated from 1:25000 material as follows: SCU KCK.gd.09, Iron Pot Ck (type topographic maps, and bearings recorded with a Garmin locality), 3ΘΘ; SCU KCK.gd.10, upper reaches of Iron Pot handheld GPS (or estimated from 1:25000 topographic Ck, 2ΘΘ; SCU KCK.gd.11, wet gully in Murray Scrub, 2ΗΗ, maps where specified). 2ΘΘ; SCU KCK.gd.12, Cob O’Corn Ck, 3ΗΗ, 3ΘΘ. Measurements of preserved specimens were made to the nearest 0.1 mm with dial vernier calipers, and measurements Euastacus dalagarbe n.sp. and ratios follow those used by Morgan (1986). Specimens in the process of moulting were excluded from measure- Fig. 4 ments and ratios. Gastric mill characters were examined Type material. HOLOTYPE: AM P67884; male (OCL 35.8 mm); minor for selected specimens. Obviously regenerate chelae were gully feeding Brindle Creek (rainforest), Border Ranges National Park, not included in ratios used. Spine characteristics and other northeastern N.S.W.; 28°22.789'S 153°04.334'E; elevation 760 m; J. Coughran; 22 October 2001. PARATYPES: AM P67885; 4ΗΗ, 4ΘΘ (OCL morphological traits used in the descriptions follow those 9.0–32.5 mm); type locality; J. Coughran; 27 September 2001. AM of Morgan (1986). Character states that follow the latest P67886; 1Η, 1 aberrant male (OCL 25.1–31.3 mm); upper Collins Creek revision of the genus (e.g., size, sharpness) have been (rainforest), Border Ranges NP; 28°25.978'S 153°07.656'E; elevation described according to the illustrative framework provided 880 m; J. Coughran; 22 October 2001. AM P67887; 2ΗΗ, 2ΘΘ (OCL therein (Morgan, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997). For other 18.9–31.7 mm); upper Grady’s Creek, Lost World Wilderness Area (rainforest), Border Ranges NP; 28°22.182'S 153°06.422'E; elevation 890 character states, the term “sharp” refers to spines that are m; J. Coughran & D. Newell; 2 October 2003. AM P67888; 4ΗΗ, 3ΘΘ produced to a distinct point, and “blunt” to those that are (OCL 13.7–30.1 mm); tributary to Sheepstation Ck; Sheepstation Creek Coughran: new crayfishes from New South Wales 363 Fig. 2. Collection localities of Euastacus girurmulayn in northeastern New South Wales. The previous Whian Whian State Forest has been designated as National Park since collection. Fig. 3. Collection localities of Euastacus guruhgi in northeastern New South Wales. The previous Wollumbin State Forest has been designated as National Park and State Conservation Area since Fig. 4. Euastacus dalagarbe. Dorsal view, holotype, AM P67884. collection. Photograph: Max Egan. Scale bar is 10 mm. Flora Reserve (rainforest), Border Ranges NP; 28°24.085'S 153°02.247'E; Diagnosis. Male cuticle partition present. Rostrum short, elevation 570 m; J. Coughran & D. Newell; 28 November 2003. AM P67913; usually reaching to base or midlength of third antennal 1Η, 2ΘΘ (OCL 21.4–30.1 mm); un-named wet gully, Bar Mountain (rainforest), Border Ranges NP; 28°27.500'S 153°07.710'E (topographic segment. Thoracic spines absent. Li abdominal spines either map); elevation 960 m; J. Coughran & D. Newell; 28 November 2003. absent or present as 1–3 barely discernible bumps or small and blunt spines on abdominal somite 2, occasionally 1 bump Type locality. The type locality is in a minor gully feeding also on somites 3–4. Lii spines, D-L spines, D spines and Brindle Creek, a westward-flowing tributary of the upper abdominal boss absent. 3 mesial carpal spines. 1 ventromesial Richmond River, approximately 30 km north of Kyogle. carpal spine present on normal chelae, distinctly smaller than One paratype (32.5 mm male) is the only specimen caught ventral carpal spine. Ventrolateral propodal spine row absent. in Brindle Creek itself, despite repeated sampling. While Dorsal surface of propodus lateral to dactylar base without Brindle Creek is large (up to 10 m in width), this animal bumps, spines or protrusions. Ventrally, 1 small to medium was collected from a shallow, quiet backwater of Brindle and blunt spine lateral to dactylar base. 0–2 (usually 1) small Creek, seasonally fed by a minor gully. All other specimens dorsal apical propodal spines. 0–3 (usually 1–2) spines (including several released after capture) were found in above propodal and dactylar cutting edges, spines apical in small gullies and tributaries feeding Brindle, Collins, distribution. Spines ventral to propodal and dactylar cutting Grady’s and Sheepstation Creeks. These watercourses are edges absent. Usually 1 apical mesial dactylar spine. Other typically very small in nature, and often nearly or completely apical dactylar spines and dactylar basal spines absent. void of surface water for a considerable part of the year. Description. Maximum OCL: 35.8 mm. —Rostrum. Other specimens examined. SCU KCK.gd.13; 1 Θ (OCL 33.6 mm); Rostrum short, reaching to base or midlength of third type locality; J. Coughran; July 2003. SCU KCK.gd.14; 3ΘΘ (OCL antennal segment, almost to anterior edge of segment on 14.2–19.3 mm); upper Collins Creek (rainforest); 28°25.978'S 153°07.656'E; elevation 880 m; J.